On Eagle's Wings

Part Five

His consciousness slowly returned to the Physical Plane. Stars covered his vision as his being adjusted to the Transdimension Cylinder once again.

His non-corporeal eyes cleared, only to blink at the assault of dozens of flashing alarm lights.

"ALPHA, WHAT IS GOING ON?"

The small robot looked up from his work at a console, and hurried anxiously to stand before the wise mentor. "Aye yi yi!" he shrieked in panic, "The Power Rangers are fighting a Chaotic, and losing!"

Zordon's eyes widened with immeasurable disbelief. "A CHAOTIC? BUT THAT ISN'T POSSIBLE! ONLY THE SHADOW LORD CAN CONTAIN SUCH A BEING!"

The sage frowned at the very thought of his young, inexperienced Rangers facing a horror that extreme. "I SHALL SEE FOR MYSELF."

Alpha nodded, watching as Zordon closed his eyes, and accessed the Command Centers systems through the computers' connection to his Cylinder. He could see the battle through the Viewing Globe, and he shuddered at the familiar sight that tore through the heavy night skies, vomiting streams of black fire at the nearly helpless defenders of Earth.

Zordon was too overwhelmed to speak. Slowly, he regained some composure, and fixed a desperate gaze on Alpha. "IT IS EREBUS."

Alpha was so horrified he nearly overloaded his cognitive systems. He knew the story of the mighty Ninjetti cult of Phaedos, where hundreds of brave warriors from around the galaxy assembled to learn the secrets of true Power. Umbriel had sent the Erebus to Phaedos to follow Zordon, and prevent the young sage and his ally Ninjor from unleashing the Power given him. The entire assembly of Ninjetti failed to destroy the Erebus.

Now, nothing remained of the Ninjetti save the crushed remains of their sacred Temple, and the last Master Warrior, forced to live forever as the sole survivor of a dignified, spiritual nation.

A quiet groan distracted them. Alpha recovered enough to hurry to the medical table, where Tommy was stirring.

His eyes were still closed tightly, wrinkles of stress lining his face. His knuckles were almost white on his right hand, trapped in a perpetual fist.

"Tommy?" Alpha ventured, leaning in to look closer at the former Green Ranger.

The young man's expression softened, and slowly, dazed mahogany eyes slid open. "Alpha..."

Alpha sighed in relief. At least Tommy was all right...

His cheer died when Tommy's hand finally relaxed, revealing a small, circular design blazed onto his palm. Within the disc-shaped outline was a three-toed footprint.

"Aye yi yi!" Alpha shrieked in alarm, taking a step back, "Tommy, you're hand!"

Tommy struggled to sit up, drawing his sore hand toward him. His skin was reddened with some sort of burn, but the design was unmistakable.

His eyes widening, Tommy reached his other hand into his jeans pocket. After a brief search, he looked again at his hand.

"My coin?" he whispered, turning an incredulous glance at Zordon, "Is this my coin?"

"APPARENTLY SO," Zordon admitted, obviously almost as surprised as Tommy, "ORIGINALLY, ALL THE POWER RANGERS ABSORBED THEIR POWER COINS INTO THEIR BODIES TO ACCESS THE POWER. THAT IS HOW YOU WERE ABLE TO TRANSFORM INTO THE EVIL GREEN RANGER BEFORE I HAD GIVEN YOU A MORPHER. I HAD RECONFIGURED THE COINS TO NEED THE MORPHER AS A SAFETY PRECAUTION."

"But, how did you do it, Tommy?" Alpha wondered. The boy was too overwhelmed to speak, his gaze boring into the design on his palm.

"I didn't!" Tommy argued, shaking his head to clear his mind. "I didn't even know it was possible. And my coin is dead! I lost every last drop of power, remember?"

It was then that Tommy noticed the alarm lights flashing all around him. Concern welling in his heart, he dashed to the Viewing Globe.

His stomach tightened as he witnessed some demonic creature swoop from the sky, grabbing the Black Ranger in one of its six clawed limbs.

"What is that?" he gasped.

"THE OTHER RANGERS ARE ENGAGED IN A BATTLE," Zordon explained, "THE CREATURE THEY FACE IS ONE WITH INCREDIBLE POWER."

Tommy bit his lip, his considering gaze turning from the Viewing Globe to his palm, and then back again.

"Oh no you don't!" Alpha suddenly shouted, "There's no way you're going out there."

"But they need help!" Tommy protested, holding out his hand, "and it looks like I can give some!"

"ALPHA, BEGIN RUNNING SCANS ON TOMMY," Zordon decided. "WE MUST DETERMINE IF HIS POWERS ARE RESTORED, AND HOW LONG THOSE POWERS MIGHT LAST. UNTIL WE KNOW FOR SURE THAT YOU ARE IN STABLE CONDITION TO FIGHT, TOMMY, WE WOULD ONLY PUT THE RANGERS IN FURTHER DANGER. IF YOUR POWERS DID RETURN, ONLY TO DISSOLVE AFTER A BRIEF MORPH, THEN WE WOULD ONLY DISTRACT THE OTHERS."

Tommy frowned heatedly, folding his arms as he watched the battle progress with hardened eyes.

He winced as the Black Ranger was released from the nightmare's grip, falling limply into the jagged cliff of the rock quarry.

"Hurry up," Tommy sighed. "They don't have much time."

* * *

"Zack? Zack, answer me!"

Billy swallowed back his panic, gently jostling his close friend. Red blood stained the Blue Ranger's dust-blackened gloves, oozing steadily from several gashes along the Black Ranger's shoulders.

The monster's razor-sharp claws did a great deal of damage when he had plucked the Black Ranger off the ground to take him on a joyride.

Zack remained a dead weight, his arms hanging limply when Billy tried to adjust his position. With a heavy sigh, Billy gave up, doing his best to gently lay his friend on the ground.

The young genius gulped as his fingers hovered above the bleeding wound Zack had suffered.

"A monster was never able to penetrate our armor," he realized, his fear building. "In order to actually harm us while Morphed, the monster has to be able to not only penetrate the armor, but the energy layer between the outer armor and our skin beneath!"

Billy rose to his feet. "How does a monster tear through a transformation? What are we dealing with?"

Jason had asked him to make sure the Black Ranger was alive, and assess whether he could possibly continue fighting. After a quick observation, Billy decided that the Black Ranger was more or less all right. True, he was bleeding, and was also dazed. But the Morph would repair itself soon enough, restoring Zack to fighting form.

Of course, when the Morph was eventually broken, Zack would have to be properly treated. But considering the battle at hand, the Rangers couldn't afford to be short-handed.

Billy steeled himself, grasping his discarded Power Lance and hurrying out of the small, shallow cave in the rock that would serve as Zack's recovery area. He gazed at the battle from the mouth of the indenture, frowning deeply.

After realizing that an all-out attack strategy proved unsuccessful, the three remaining Rangers had opted for speed over strength. After all, even the most devastating attack would be useless against a monster that was too quick to be touched. The Rangers even managed to fire twice from the laser cannon assembled from their individual Power Weapons, but all they had managed to do was graze the beast's thick tail. It wasn't enough to do any observable damage either; it just seemed to irritate it.

Kimberly flipped into the air, barely missing the enormous tail that repeatedly stabbed the air. She landed perfectly after a follow-up handspring, but breathed in sharply and continued rolling. She took a brief second to glance at the spot where she had landed, the rock smoldering with an eerie black fire.

"He's so fast!" she panted, bolting into a run. She wanted to make as much room between her and the freakish creature as possible.

Erebus gave chase, smirking gleefully at the terror that hovered around the short girl like a delicious aura. Chaotics just loved the taste of fear. It was like a fine wine... intoxicating and sooo satisfying.

And it didn't take much effort to make these colorful children bleed with terror.

* * *

Meanwhile, far above, a glittering purple form hovered, watching the battle with grim interest.

"By the gods," she whispered, her entire body tingling with a creeping sensation, "What kind of horror is this?"

Kreia hated being faced with puzzling circumstances. She prided herself in an extensive knowledge of all realities, through long hours of study, as well as some practice.

She closed her eyes, reaching out with her dwindling power. She needed to sense more, to create a mental picture of all the energies swirling around in the environment. Perhaps that would be the map to understanding.

She slowly detected the grim aura concentrated around the monster that faded slightly with distance. But that aura filled the area for miles, collecting around the individual Rangers as they fought for their lives.

"It feeds off of them," she noted, her stomach retching in disgust, "Off their fear."

Her scowl deepened, and she followed the column of energy she had seen stretch from the monster in her direction. It reached to the heavens, glittering with black energy.

Her brow folded thoughtfully at the source of the energy. The moon.

"But the moon isn't the ultimate source," she decided, "Only a mirror, like how the moon reflects the sunlight. It's reflecting this energy, and the energy is strengthening the beast."

A piercing scream drew her attention. She hovered lower, watching in horror as the monster crushed the Yellow Ranger beneath its claw. The screams of agony chilled the Purple Ranger, and even from that distance she could see crimson stain the bright color of the uniform.

"Kazu..." she whispered.

Of course, she knew the Ranger below was not Kazu, the indomitable, noble hunter. In fact, the current Yellow Ranger was female.

Kreia didn't recognize the form, nor the voice that rang with pleading as she screamed. But it didn't matter that she didn't know the girl below. It didn't matter that she barely had any energy left. She had to do something.

She was, after all, a Power Ranger.

She gathered her energy once again, manifesting the cyclone of pure energy that had so nearly killed Goldar on the moon. But this time, the cyclone buzzed even louder, energy whirling brighter and faster than ever before.

Kreia poured all the energy she could spare, her head becoming light. Still, she forced herself to hold on... to remain connected to the Physical Plane through Alexis.

Just... hold... on...

Then, her breath escaped in a terrifying scream that might have shattered glass. Everything below stopped, as four pairs of human eyes, and one set of Chaotic, watched the swirling cyclone descend with terrible force.

Even though the Yellow Ranger was helpless beneath the weight of the monster, the precision of the cyclone was sharp enough to leave her completely unharmed. The brutal attack plucked the twelve-foot beast into the air, sending him spinning in a storm of violent energy.

Trini gasped as numbness crawled through her wounded body. The Pink and Blue Rangers were quick to rush to her side, Kimberly cradling her head while Billy gently probed the visible wounds.

"Trini?" Kim gasped, her voice shaking with fear, "Say something!"

"I'm... fine," she rasped, her voice grating on her sore throat.

"No you're not," Billy argued, his tone heavy with strained composure, "He may have cracked some ribs, and his claws cut deeply into your abdomen. I can't tell what's broken unless you move, but it'll be torturous."

"I said I'm fine," Trini repeated, trying to demonstrate by rising to her elbows. Her insides were aflame, and despite her incredible self-control, she shivered.

"That's it, you're going back to the Command Center," Billy decided, his tone brooking no argument, "There's no way you'll be in any shape to help us."

Billy rose to his feet, glancing toward his leader. "Jason, Trini has to get immediate medical attention!"

But the Red Ranger didn't hear his friend's report, too focused he was on the writhing beast high above. It screamed in tortured fury, swirling madly in the epicenter of a tornado strong enough to send him to Oz, but focused enough not to so much as jostle the air closer to the ground.

Jason's frown deepened when he turned his puzzled gaze slightly to the side. He saw a glint of purple energy high above, which was now slowly descending to the ground.

From this distance, he could clearly make out the figure in the sky.

"The Purple Ranger," he whispered thoughtfully. Part of him felt extreme relief, but another was worried once again.

Was that Alexis up there? How could she cast such a potent spell?

But if it wasn't Alexis, who was it? Kreia?

Had Kreia completely taken over, erasing the young woman Jason had only recently come to appreciate?

His eyes widened in concern as the slowly descending figure began to plummet, losing all control over gravity. He broke into a run, hurrying beneath her and leaping into the air to cradle her fall.

She trembled in his arms, her hands clutching her head and a low moan escaping her lips. Jason carried her over to where the other Rangers were assembled, and laid her down near Trini.

"Alexis," he said sternly, "Are you alright?"

"K...Kreia..." she whispered faintly.

Kim glanced worriedly at Jason. No reaction was discernible through his armor, but his face folded into a fierce scowl beneath his crimson helmet.

"Can't... hold," she breathed.

Billy looked toward the monster, whose tormented howls had softened. "Guys, the cyclone's dying. I think the monster's going to escape!"

He glanced back at the Purple Ranger. "She can't hold the spell."

"Let go!" Kim begged, "You'll hurt yourself. We can take it from here."

Kreia struggled to maintain focus, picking herself off the ground slowly. Her sweat dripped like blood from a fresh wound, and her starry eyes watched the beast slowly descend to the ground.

I can't... do anything more, she realized despondently, I can barely hold onto Alexis. I... I'm fading...

She shuddered, releasing the spell finally. The monster yelped slightly as it crashed to the ground.

Kreia released a long breath as she collapsed.

"Zordon," Jason said into his communicator, "Bring both Trini and Kreia to the Command Center. They both need medical attention."

^ACKNOWLEDGED.^

Jason watched as the two women vanished from the bloodied earth. He then straightened, his Power Sword once again forming in his hand. Behind him, the Pink and Blue Rangers steadied themselves, also clutching their trusted weapons.

"It's up to us," he decided, "Hopefully, whatever Kreia did to this thing weakened it."

* * *

Alexis opened her eyes, unfolding her body from the protective fetal position she had found herself in. Her eyes darted around in concern, gazing at the swirling colors that danced around her like a fever dream.

Puzzled, she glanced down at her own body. Her brow folded in confusion at her appearance... she almost seemed to be an outline of a person, shaped properly only without any detail. She had the semblance of arms and legs, but they looked as if she were wearing a flesh-toned bodysuit that covered her features completely.

*Where am I?* she whispered to herself. Strangely, her voice didn't seem to quite emanate from her mouth. She had moved her lips, but the voice seemed to throb from within.

*You are in the Astral Plane,* a voice responded, also throbbing from within, *This is the realm of pure thought, Alexis.*

Alexis jumped, turning around full circle as she floated in mid air. She narrowed her eyes, finally recognizing a faint wisp of something that obstructed the view before her. It was practically invisible.

But the voice was familiar, regardless of its source.

*Kreia?* she marveled, gazing at the transparent form, *What's happening?*

The form took a more concrete shape, becoming a faint gray image of a smallish girl. She did her best to smile at Alexis, in an effort to comfort the alarmed girl.

*I had to bring you here,* Kreia explained, *You see, I was in your body, and together we escaped the Dark Dimension. But when I arrived on Earth, the other Rangers needed assistance. I did my best to help, but I became too weak to maintain my hold of the Physical Plane. But I couldn't just fade without apologizing to you, and explaining at least somewhat what had happened.*

Alexis frowned. *What do you mean, fade?*

*I am not a person, Alexis. I am a manifestation of power and thought, completely insubstantial. I needed your body to connect to the Physical Plane, since you had the Purple Coin. But now, I have divested all my strength. I couldn't even reassert myself into your body if I tried.*

Alexis gazed at the small vision with a measure of pity. She didn't quite understand what was going on, but one thing was certain: Kreia was going to cease to exist.

*I'm... so sorry,* she offered impotently.

Kreia smiled. *You have nothing to apologize for. I am the one who mistreated you by manipulating your mind and body. Please believe me that I had no intention of hurting you in any way. I was so confused... I didn't even realize what I truly was, or what had happened, until I met the current Green Ranger.*

She sighed quietly, reaching her fading hands toward Alexis. *I wanted to make amends for the trouble I caused by helping you all defeat this newest monster. But I don't have the time. So I must ask you one last favor.*

Alexis nodded. *Name it.*

*Let me fuse with you.*

Alexis swallowed, staring at the fading shade with fearful eyes.

*I am far too insubstantial to be any real part of your consciousness,* Kreia assured her, *But I just can't let the knowledge I've accumulated go to waste. I don't have time to explain everything I have done, or discovered. But if you let me fuse with the Purple Coin, my knowledge will join the pooled knowledge the Power carries. When a Power Ranger Morphs, she has access to a bed of knowledge on how to use it properly. I can give you insight into your powers, and perhaps help you.*

After a few moments, Alexis finally nodded. *Sounds like a plan,* she decided.

She braced herself, watching as the figure of Kreia melted into an amorphous cloud. The cloud leaked into her, covering her with a misty aura. Her essence burned as a light was turned on within her mind, filling her thoughts with the images Kreia had chosen to leave her with.

She knew what to do.

* * *

Tommy smiled as he witnessed the Red Ranger leap toward the Erebus monster, catching the beast's leather wing with the razor edge of the Power Sword.

He then winced as the beast batted the Ranger away as he descended, sending Jason sprawling into the nearby mountains.

The former Green Ranger's fists clenched. In his heart, he could feel something within him. Some kind of Power. It was different from what he was familiar with... far more intense than the comforting energies he always felt during his tenure as the Green Ranger. This time, a fire smoldered within him, the source of the ache being his marked palm.

The Power Coin was within his body. He was certain of it.

And it only infuriated him that even with the coin, it was dangerous for him to try and help his friends.

Tommy's jaw set, his heart climbing into his throat as the Pink Ranger decided to go on the offensive, leaping out of hiding as the monster passed and launching a series of rapid-fire arrows with professional precision. The monster growled with irritation, his eyes flashing with eerie energy that oozed toward the Pink Ranger as she dove in for a closer attack.

He peeled his eyes away painfully as Kimberly vanished within the cloud of crimson smoke.

His decision made, Tommy hurried to the teleporter, and began programming his destination.

"TOMMY, YOU CAN'T JOIN THE BATTLE NOW," Zordon commanded, his voice bringing the attention of both Alpha and Trini.

"Tommy!" Trini shouted, sitting up carefully despite Alpha's attempts to keep her flat on the medical bed, "What do you think you're doing?"

In answer, he held his hand forward, displaying his marked palm. Trini gaped at the design.

"I know I have the Power again," he explained, "I don't know how long it'll last, but even if it's just a momentary distraction, it'll be worth it. Erebus isn't feeling anything they're hitting him with!"

Suddenly, Alexis sprang up from her bed, sitting straight up and eyes fully alert. All present startled at the sudden movement.

"What's going on?" she demanded, hopping off the bed and hurrying to the Viewing Globe, "How are the other Rangers?"

Tommy frowned in confusion, approaching her carefully. "Kreia?"

Alexis swallowed. "Kreia's... gone now. She couldn't hold herself together any longer, so she fused her remaining knowledge with the Purple Coin."

Silence settled in for a few moments.

Alexis glanced at Tommy uncomfortably, her cheeks flushing. She bit her lip, keeping her eyes carefully from his.

She could still feel his lips against hers.

"Um... I'm..." she stammered nervously, "I'm sorry I kissed you like that. I totally didn't mean anything by it!"

Despite the gravity of the situation, Tommy grinned. "I understand. You weren't... you. It happens in this line of work."

He then offered her his hand. "I'm Tommy Oliver, the former Green Ranger."

Alexis offered a weak smile, turning to meet his gaze finally. She then reached out, and clasped his hand with hers.

"Kreia channeled her energies into you when she kissed you," she revealed, "She was trying to search the Power Coin for any signature that Erol was still alive. In order to do so, she needed to charge the coin, since it was lifeless."

She released his hand and spread open his fingers, noting the three-toed mark on his palm. She then revealed her own hand, the dark eagle brand bold against her pale skin.

"I know I'm not really a Power Ranger, and I don't know the first thing about fighting. But Kreia didn't have the strength to finish this, so she told me what to do."

Zordon blinked. "WHAT WILL YOU DO?"

Alexis glanced up at the floating head, her brow creased with slight puzzlement. The sight of Zordon made most humans quite uncomfortable, but on some level Alexis knew what he would look like.

She had a hard time delineating her memories from the flood of knowledge Kreia had granted her.

"The monster is powered by energy falling to Earth from the moon," she explained, "If we can somehow block that energy, it should weaken."

Zordon nodded. "YES... EREBUS IS A CHAOTIC. THEREFORE, IN ORDER TO MANIFEST POWER IN THE MATERIAL WORLD, HE MUST BE CONSTANTLY FED WITH CHAOTIC ENERGY. I KNOW OF NO DIMENSIONAL RIFTS ANYWHERE NEAR HERE."

"Then... maybe it's not near?" Alpha suggested.

Zordon eyes widened with realization. "OF COURSE! EXCELLENT, ALPHA!"

The small robot giggled sheepishly.

"What is it?" Tommy inquired.

"WHEN I LAST ENCOUNTERED EREBUS, HE WAS STRONG ENOUGH TO DECIMATE AN ENTIRE PLANET OF WARRIORS IN LESS THAN A DAY. HE HAS NOW BEEN ON EARTH FOR NEARLY AN HOUR, AND HASN'T DISPLAYED ANYWHERE NEAR THE POWER LEVEL I KNEW HIM TO HAVE."

Trini shivered, glancing at the bandages wrapped around her abdomen. "He's... usually stronger than this?"

"MUCH STRONGER. BUT, IF HE CANNOT BE FULLY CHARGED WITH HIS NATIVE ENERGY, THEN HE CAN'T MANIFEST HIS TRUE POWER. THE BEAST THE RANGERS FACE IS BEING FED SPARINGLY, LIKELY BECAUSE OF THE DISTANCE BETWEEN EARTH AND THE CLOSEST RIFT BETWEEN THE MATERIAL AND CHAOTIC REALMS."

"And somehow, this 'chaotic energy' is hitting the Earth from the moon," Tommy deduced, folding his arms, "Alpha, can these scanners detect exactly what this chaotic energy is? And maybe shield it?"

"THERE IS ALREADY A SHIELD AROUND THE COMMAND CENTER, BLOCKING US FROM MAGICAL SCANS FROM THE MOON. THE BATTLE SITE IS ONLY .59 MILES FROM HERE, SO IF WE RECALIBRATE THE SHIELDS AND EXPAND THE PERIMETER, WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO BLOCK ALL LUNAR ENERGIES COMPLETELY. EXPANDING OUR OWN SHIELD IS MUCH EASIER THAN CONSTRUCTING AN ENTIRELY NEW ONE."

"But... if we include the battle ground in the shield, then Erebus will see us!" Alpha stated, "Can we be sure he'll be weak enough to destroy?"

Zordon's obscured face folded into a deep frown. "EVEN WITHOUT DIRECT ENERGY TO FEED IT, EREBUS CAN EXIST FOR A SHORT TIME. THE SHIELD WILL ONLY STOP REPLENISHING HIM, MEANING HE CAN SUSTAIN INJURY WITHOUT IMMEDIATE REGENERATION. BUT HIS POWER IS GREAT ENOUGH THAT IT MAY TAKE THE RANGERS A GREAT DEAL OF EFFORT TO INFLICT ENOUGH DAMAGE TO BREAK HIS HOLD TO THE MATERIAL REALM."

"And that will give the monster plenty of time to destroy the Command Center," Trini observed. She grimaced as she sat up, and turned toward the Viewing Globe. "Maybe if we summon the Megazord, we'll have enough power to hit Erebus really hard, really fast."

"The Megazord is much too slow," Tommy noted grimly, "It'll be really hard to keep up with the Erebus. He's already too fast for the Rangers to keep up with!"

Alexis leaned against a console, staring hard at the mark on her palm. Her eyes widened as an idea struck her.

"If you can erect the shield, Tommy and I can destroy Erebus."

Tommy's eyebrow rose. "How?"

She smiled excitedly. "We're the Dragon and the Eagle! We have combined attacks just as powerful as the other five. I doubt that monster can take a full-blown Maelstrom!"

"A... a Maelstrom?"

Alexis' eyes widened, and she turned to Zordon. "He doesn't know about the Maelstrom?"

"TOMMY HAS NEVER SERVED WITH A PURPLE RANGER BEFORE," Zordon explained, "AND NOW THAT THE RANGERS USE MORPHERS, THEIR ABILITIES ARE SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT. TOMMY CAN NO LONGER SUMMON THE DRAGONHEART PULSE. THE ENERGY FOCUS ON THE RANGERS' PALMS NO LONGER EXISTS, LIMITING THEIR INDIVIDUAL ENERGY MANIFESTATION ABILITIES."

Alexis' jaw dropped. "Wait... so I can't use the Eagleheart Pulse either?"

"I... I AM NOT CERTAIN," Zordon admitted, "IN YOUR CASE, YOU SEEM TO HAVE RETAINED AT LEAST SOME MEASURE OF KREIA'S EXPERIENCE. SO YOU KNOW HOW TO MANIFEST THE EAGLEHEART PULSE AS SHE DID. KREIA WAS A SORCERESS AS WELL AS A RANGER, AND EVENTUALLY LEARNED HOW TO SUMMON THE PULSE EVEN WITHOUT MORPHIN'. ALL THESE FACTS TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT WOULD LEAD ME TO ASSUME THAT YOU CAN CREATE A PULSE, EVEN WITH A MORPHER."

She chewed her lip thoughtfully. "Well, I don't have a Morpher now. And neither does Tommy. The coin's inside his body, and it's got enough energy in it for at least one more fight at full strength."

Tommy's grim expression lit up. "Really?"

Alexis nodded, a small smile appearing as she noted his excited expression. She then glanced quickly to Trini, who was struggling to her feet despite Alpha's protests. A thoughtful frown creased her brow. "You're the Yellow Ranger," she realized, digging through her memory, "The one Erebus nearly crushed."

Trini nodded, a faint grin on her lips. "Trini Kwan. Nice to meet you, Alexis."

Alexis nodded, accepting the greeting. But her slight frown remained. "How are your injuries?"

Tommy's frown mirrored his new partner's as he caught on to her train of thought. "Will you be able to fight, Trini? We might need you guys to combine your weapons in case the Maelstrom isn't enough."

Trini nodded. "I'm up for it."

"And the Black Ranger?" Alexis asked. The last time she saw him, he was knocked out cold.

"We're keeping an eye on his vitals," Alpha reported, "He wasn't wounded enough to break the Morph, so he's actually regaining consciousness as we speak."

"Then let's get that shield reprogrammed," Tommy decided, hurrying to one of many computer consoles. "Show me how to help."

* * *

Zack groaned quietly, his eyes fluttering open. A dull, throbbing pain assailed his senses, tensing the muscles in his face. He rasped inward, pushing past the pain to sit up as best he could.

He cringed as he recalled the enormous reject from a Scooby Doo movie digging its impossibly sharp claws into his shoulder, dragging him along the ground before pulling him helplessly into the air.

Slowly, Zack pushed himself to his feet, flexing his arms and legs to assess the damage.

"Nothing broken... the bleeding's stopped."

He shivered just thinking about how a Morphed Ranger could even bleed.

He gazed out of the mouth of the cavern, peering into the distance at the flashes of red energy that continued to flare at a patch of darkness.

"Jase is going for a distance strike with his Blade-Blaster," he realized, "but... where are the others?"

Zack swallowed fearfully, leaping from the cave to the ground. He reached his hand high over his head. "Cosmic Cannon!"

The Power Ax materialized, automatically adjusted for long distance energy fire. Zack hurried closer, steadying the large barreled weapon as he planted himself on his knees.

"Suck on this, Creep!" he growled, firing the weapon. Searing white energy leapt from the mouth of the canon, pushing Zack back with sheer force. The blast barreled through the unsuspecting monster's wing, tearing a gaping hole through the leathery skin.

"All right!" Zack shouted, "Now it's on!"

The monster was forced to draw back, giving the Rangers a few moments to regroup. Zack hurried to the location the red laser blasts had originated, and ducked into a small canyon where the Red Ranger took cover, the barrel of his energy pistol still smoking from excess use.

"Zack," he greeted, his tone heavy with exhaustion, "Good to see you're on your feet."

"Where's everyone else?" the Black Ranger asked worriedly.

"Trini's in the Command Center, and Billy is taking care of Kimberly. She's been encased in some kind of magical cocoon. We can't send her to the Command Center, because we don't know the nature of the cocoon. We may contaminate the computers or something."

Zack scowled, following Jason's gaze toward the monster. He gaped in surprise as the hole in its wing steadily sealed itself.

"Whoa... he regenerates fast!"

Jason nodded, leaping out of the crevice. "We have to hit him hard, and fast enough to counteract his healing. It we don't give him time to regenerate, maybe we'll be able to finish him off."

Zack obeyed, but he could tell from his tone that the Red Ranger had little faith in their chances.

Erebus turned his crimson gaze toward the two foolish beings that dared move into close proximity. Taking a moment, the grim beast tested out his freshly-healed wing.

Of course, it was perfect.

The Chaotic snarled, revealing dozens of razor-like teeth.

"FOOLS!" he growled, speaking to his opponents for the first time, "WHAT CHANCES DO YOU THINK YOU HAVE? THERE ARE ONLY TWO OF YOU LEFT!"

He stretched his wings to their fullest extent, catching a wind current to lift the large creature into the air once again. He breathed in, gathering energy to launch another assault of element-melting black fire.

Suddenly, a glint of energy in the distance caught his eye.

Stunned, the beast turned his attention to the top of the nearby cliffs, where a large complex flashed into existence.

Erebus blinked in surprise as his senses were flooded with new perception. He grinned wickedly when he recognized one particular energy.

"ZORDON OF ELTAR..." he whispered, almost trembling with excitement, "OUT OF HIDING, I SEE."

The energy was slightly different than before. Zordon almost seemed... greatly distant. But Erebus was certain his senses were correct. Zordon was nearby, within the large building.

The beast released a mocking laugh as the Black and Red Rangers noticed what he had seen.

"No!" Jason shouted, shocked beyond belief, "What happened to the shields?"

"PERHAPS YOUR MENTOR HAS REALIZED THE FUTILITY OF THIS BATTLE," Erebus proposed, "HE IS MY TRUE PREY. YOU ARE JUST THE APPETIZER."

And with that, Erebus streaked towards the cliffs. Faintly, he perceived a marked decrease in visible light, as well as a slow deterioration of the energies that kept him vital. But he ignored these somewhat alarming sensations... all he could focus on was his target.

Until he felt some form of energy crash into his head, sending thunderous currents of energy into his entire body.

Startled and overwhelmed, Erebus couldn't maintain his flight any longer. He crashed into the rocky ground, digging up several feet of debris upon impact.

With a slight groan, he rose to stand upon six limbs. His face wrinkled with confusion... how could a puny Ranger hurt him so much? He was almost... dazed.

Then, he realized with immeasurable astonishment what had happened. The moon was gone.

And without the moon, the reflection of the Dark Light evaporated.

"Tommy! How'd you do that?" the Red Ranger shouted, watching in astonishment as two forms leapt down from the cliffs. While he couldn't recognize the forms at that great a distance, he did recognize the green energy sphere that was the Evil Green Ranger's signature attack.

When Jason got a closer look at Tommy, his eyes widened with disbelief.

Not only was the Green Ranger back in uniform, but the energy he exuded was more powerful than anything he'd been capable of since he joined the Power Rangers.

The Green Ranger stood proud, his armor shining with newly-imbued energy. He held out his hand, revealing to his best friend the black design that marked the palm of his glove.

"What does that mean?" Zack wondered, gazing from the Green Ranger's hand to his helmet.

"Kreia restored my powers... at least for a little while," he explained proudly, "I have the abilities all the other Green Rangers had... even the ones muted by the Morpher."

"Like that energy sphere," Jason realized. He then looked above, staring at the form still hovering in the air. "What's Kreia doing now?"

Tommy followed Jason's gaze, watching the Purple Ranger hover above. She was still too high to make out clearly, but it seemed her attention focused upon the dazed Chaotic.

"That's not Kreia anymore," Tommy corrected, "She's Alexis again."

Jason stared at his best friend in bewilderment. "Then what is she doing out here? This is a dangerous monster... she can get seriously hurt."

Tommy crossed his arms, watching his new partner with a measure of pride. "Don't worry... she knows the plan better than any of us."

* * *

With a wash of brilliant yellow-gold light, Trini materialized on the sharp cliffs of the rock quarry. She breathed in sharply as her walking jostled her mending ribcage, but she pushed back the pain, moving towards the two Rangers cradled nearby behind a series of large boulders.

"Trini!" Billy gasped, gazing up at her.

"I'm well enough to continue," she answered. She walked to Billy's side, her gaze falling upon the Pink Ranger, who lay half-covered in thick red grime.

"Kim? You okay?"

"No," she growled, her voice heavy with frustration, "This stupid... gunk paralyzed me!"

"It was covering her entire body," Billy explained, as he resumed chipping away at the gooey substance with his Blade-Blaster, "but we've made a good deal of progress. Thankfully we uncovered her helmet before she suffocated."

The Blue Ranger raised his dagger, preparing to strike against the covering with all his might, but Trini quickly grabbed his arm before he could.

"What?" he asked.

Her head was tilted toward the darkened sky. "Just... wait."

Kim sighed. "Trini, we don't have time to wait! Jason's all alone out here!"

"No... we're all here now," Trini revealed. She bit her lip thoughtfully, glancing back at Kim. The red goo slowly dulled to a grayish tone.

"What do you mean by that?" Kim demanded, her interest in Trini's statement completely distracting her from the magical cocoon surrounding much of her body.

"Zack's awake, and Tommy and Alexis are here too," she clarified.

"Tommy and Alexis?" Kim gasped, unconsciously jumping at the amazing statement. She managed to crumble the remaining cocoon, causing the crystallized chunks to fall to the ground impotently.

She gazed at her uniform, carefully rising to her feet. "Uh... what happened?"

Billy turned to the sky. "And what does it have to do with the disappearance of the moon?"

"The moon was the source of Erebus' power," Trini explained hastily, "Now let's go! We've gotta join the others!"

* * *

Alexis hovered high in the sky, safely distant from the bitterly enraged beast that climbed out of the crater it dug with its own body.

"It's taking stock," she analyzed, "trying to gauge its remaining power. It's noticed the moon is gone... but it also noticed the Command Center. We've got to stop it before it gets too close..."

She bit her lip, glancing toward the small dots of color. Tommy had joined the Black and Red Rangers, and Trini had teleported to the location of the Blue and Pink Rangers.

Alexis grinned when the latter trio raced to join the others.

"If the goop covering Pink is gone, then Erebus' power is really decreasing. He couldn't maintain the cocoon."

The monster then stood erect, raising his head to the skies to release a blood curdling growl of pure rage. Alexis cringed, fear shaking her resolve as she covered her ears.

Oh God oh God oh God... I can't believe I'm doing this! she reflected, backing away slightly.

While she did manage to recall memories and knowledge stored in the Purple Coin, she couldn't simply absorb the years of experience Kreia had attained. No matter how well she understood the former Purple Ranger's last battle strategy, she couldn't deny the fact that this was her very first battle of any kind.

This momentary lapse of focus cost her dearly... she never even saw the boulder that flew into her with the speed of a bullet.

She grunted, her body crumbling under the incredible weight of the projectile. She smashed helplessly into the wall of the cliff, momentarily sandwiched between both hard surfaces until the boulder succumbed to gravity.

She collapsed into a limp heap, dust flying upon impact.

"Alexis! Are you okay?"

Her consciousness was hazy, but she still heard the voice. She blinked, trying to clear the stars that sprang into her vision, and gazed at the helmeted hero who helped her rise to her knees.

She knew that voice...

"Jason?" she whispered, shaking her head to clear her thoughts, "Is that you?"

The Red Ranger startled. "Yeah."

Her eyes were wide with shock. "You're a Power Ranger?" she marveled, "That's just so... wow!"

Jason couldn't help but smile at the awe in her voice. "Well, it looks like you are too," he pointed out. "Tommy didn't tell you our names?"

"No time," she responded weakly, straightening out. She released Jason's sturdy grip, balancing herself carefully on her own two feet before gazing up the cliff. "Dammit! How can I be so stupid?"

"What?" Jason demanded, all humor in his voice dying.

Alexis clenched her fists tightly, nostrils flaring beneath her helmet. "I knew Erebus feeds off negative emotions, and I let him get to me! I started doubting myself, giving him an open shot right for Zordon!"

Jason nodded, crouching slightly. "Don't worry, that thing won't get anywhere near Zordon. Just collect your bearings, and join us when you're ready."

Alexis nodded, watching in amazement as Jason extended his powerful legs, flying into the air as if he had been shot through a cannon.

"Jason... a Power Ranger," she marveled thoughtfully, "Well, it makes sense. He's amazing. And if he, Trini, and Tommy are Rangers, then the others are probably their other friends..."

She shook her head, knocking the thoughts from her immediate consciousness. "Not now," she berated herself, leaping into the air. Her golden ankle wings began beating, carrying her into the air even faster than Jason's mighty bound.

When she got high enough, she saw what the Rangers were doing. Tommy was desperately pummeling the weakening monster with one Dragonheart Pulse after another, while the other Rangers took aim with their long-range weapons from the plateau. Black and Pink had opted for their cannon and bow respectively, while Yellow and Blue used their Blade-Blasters. Finally, Jason joined the fray, meeting up with the other core Rangers only a few meters away from the Command Center.

Alexis zipped just beneath the monster, cradling vibrant purple energy in her palms.

"Eagleheart Pulse!" she cried, straining her muscles to release the power. The crackling sphere struck the beast in the lower back, burning through the lower portion of one wing.

Erebus roared, desperately clutching at the mountain's wall as he began falling. After tumbling several meters, he managed to get a decent grip on the mountain.

"WEAKLING HUMAN FILTH," he rumbled furiously, grabbing hold of a protruding piece of rock. With one of its six limbs, Erebus wrenched a large slab of rock from the mountain, and tossed it at the Purple Ranger.

"Jeez!" she shrieked, lunging out of the way, "What's with this guy and throwing rocks?"

*He's conserving energy...*

Alexis' eyes widened at the realization, which echoed in her mind with a voice not her own. It was weak... so weak that it had to restrain itself. It wouldn't take much to fully expend his power, breaking his hold on the material realm.

Just then, a searing burst of white energy, crackling with tendrils of colored light, smashed into Erebus, knocking the unsuspecting beast clear off the cliff and into the unyielding ground below. Alexis watched the beast's deadly plummet, cringing at the loud crash that echoed at its landing.

She hovered upwards, where the five core Rangers had gathered together, all clutching a composite weapon.

"I heard it crash," Tommy noted, stepping toward the rest of the team, "so it didn't disintegrate. It's probably still alive."

"I doubt we're capable of killing it," Trini noted, "We just need to weaken it enough to send it back to where it came from."

Tommy frowned, striding to the edge of the cliff. He peered into the darkness. "We've gotta go down. I can't see anything from here."

Alexis nodded, reaching her hand toward the Green Ranger. "Let's try the Maelstrom," she suggested, "I can bring us down at a controlled speed, so we can make sure Erebus doesn't get the drop on us."

"Good. You guys stay up here for now. Obviously, we've never tried this before."

Tommy clutched Alexis' hand, and together the Green and Purple Rangers descended to the ground, moving carefully away from the mountain to make room between themselves and the spot where the beast landed.

Before they even touched the ground, a piercing shriek of fury alerted them that Erebus was far from dead. Alexis set Tommy on the ground, and took a stance beside him.

"Well, what do we do?" he demanded.

Alexis responded by standing straight, parting her legs slightly and holding her palms together before her face as if in prayer. The winds picked up around her, faint specks of purple color flashing into existence around her body and extending outwards.

Tommy watched silently, and then mimicked her movements.

Erebus managed to dig himself out of the crater just in time to see the gathering clouds of purple and green energy, sparkling like a million tiny stars and swimming around their sources.

The small specks of energy stopped moving, hanging in a nimbus around their respective creators. Then, as if connected through some joint union of power, both Rangers separated their palms. One hand fell to their sides, but the other, with the animal marking, faced the monster.

Erebus grunted in surprise as the two circular tattoos glowed steadily, each the color of the Ranger. Then, the specks of energy obeyed the silent command, rapidly gathering around the target.

And then, without sound nor speedy movement to deliver warning, all the pockets of energy exploded in a violent eruption of blinding power.

* * *

"Oh my God," Kimberly gasped, her hands flying to her mouthpiece, "Alexis and Tommy did that?"

"Incredible," Billy reflected.

The five Rangers stood in silence for a moment, awed at the dazzling display of power that sent the Chaotic demon back to his own realm. When the light faded, a buzz from their communicators confirmed their expectations.

^RANGERS, THERE IS NO LONGER ANY SIGN OF EREBUS,^ Zordon announced, ^YOU'VE ALL DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB.^

"How are Tommy and Alexis?" Trini wondered aloud, "Are they okay down there?"

^ALPHA HAS TELEPORTED THEM BACK HERE. THEY HAVE BOTH EXPENDED A GREAT DEAL OF ENERGY, AND WERE UNABLE TO MAINTAIN THEIR MORPHS. THEY SHOULD AWAKEN SOON.^

Kimberly giggled triumphantly. "Then let's welcome them to the team!"

* * *

Tommy sighed quietly, his eyelids sliding open hesitantly. As he expected, the blinding light of the examination bed assailed his sensitive vision.

"Tommy? How do you feel?"

Even though he wasn't fully aware, a small grin pulled at his lips in reaction to the soft voice that greeted him.

She smiled back, taking his limp hand and cradling it gently. Finally, his eyes opened fully, and blinked several times as his bearings collected.

"Kim," he breathed, "What happened?"

"You did it. You and Alexis finished off Erebus. Zordon doesn't think he's actually dead, but at least he couldn't hold on to Earth anymore. It's... over."

Tommy frowned slightly, noticing the sadness that weighed her last word. He slowly sat up and met her hazel gaze. "And my powers?"

Rather than answer, Kim released his palm. Tommy examined his hand.

The black brand was gone.

He sighed quietly with disappointment.

"Sorry, Bro," Jason offered, hovering over Kim's shoulder, "That attack you guys launched completely decimated your power reserves. Both you and Alexis expelled your Power Coins from your bodies. The coins were so drained they couldn't even maintain their magical bond with you."

Somehow, Tommy found a small smile. "Hey, it's okay," he assured his friends, "At least I got one more good fight in. I knew it was only temporary."

Jason grinned at his best friend?s strength.

"So how's Alexis?" Tommy asked, rising to his feet. Kimberly jerked her head toward a second bed, where the young woman lay unconscious. Zack and Trini were watching her vitals on the viewing screens, while Alpha and Billy discussed something within the ring of consoles that made up the hub of the Command Center.

"Her body's not used to wielding this kind of energy," Trini explained, "so it's taking her a bit longer to wake up."

Tommy nodded, his dark scrutiny passing along the entire Command Center. He gazed perplexed at the Transdimension Cylinder, which was suspiciously empty.

"Where's Zordon?"

* * *

*Kreia?* he called one last time.

Once again, there was no response.

Heaviness settled into Zordon's overflowing heart as he finally was forced to come to terms with this newest loss.

She was gone again. And this time, there was no coming back.

The ancient wizard sighed, taking in one final glance at the dazzling colors of the Astral Plane.

*Alexis was correct,* he admitted to himself, *Kreia, you expended every last drop of your existence. Now, all that you were has been reduced to scant memories and abilities, locked into the well of knowledge the Eagle Coin taps into. But even that will have to die.*

It was an extremely difficult decision to make. But it had to be done.

He had taken the time to study the Purple Coin after it separated from Alexis' body. He understood the kind of powers Kreia had granted it with her last wisps of existence.

It could only be manifested in the Power Coin's true form... without being distilled by the Morpher.

If Alexis did decide to join the Power Rangers, she needed to use a Morpher. The Morpher greatly changed the abilities the Power Rangers had, primarily diverting a great deal of the attack energies into defense.

He had lost so many of his children over the centuries, but after Rita's incarceration he had ten thousand years of peace to develop technology to alter the Power. Before, Rangers bled in nearly every battle. Now, the energy matrix woven by the Morpher made a nearly impenetrable armor. True, Erebus managed to cut through, but not enough to seriously endanger the Rangers' lives. If Erebus had faced any previous team of Rangers, the attacks that maimed Zack and Trini could very well have been fatal.

If Alexis used the Power Coin in the raw form, not only would she not have the defenses the other Rangers enjoyed, but she'd also have knowledge of the attacks Kreia had developed. What if she were brave enough to try them? Or worst yet... what if Kreia had given her the secret to Ascending?

Zordon?s thoughts turned to Ghedaliah. He hadn't witnessed the first Ascension, but the energy it released destroyed Umbriel. Kreia's Ascension was different, as she tapped not into the Morphin' Grid, but the energy pool the Green and Purple Rangers originated from. Still, that energy was devastating, and it cost Kreia her life.

These Rangers will never have to make such sacrifices, he vowed, It may take a bit more time, but they have enough power to stop Lord Zedd and secure peace for this planet. Slowly, they will grow stronger, and when they are ready to take on the next phase of the Power, they will do so... and then they will save the universe. But they will not risk their lives foolishly.

Zordon gazed once again into the distance. *Kreia,* he called, *you cannot hear me, but I cannot remain silent. I'm sorry I couldn't save you... again. And I dearly thank you for all you did to help the Rangers. You didn't have to help them at all, but you died a true Power Ranger, a jewel of a human being. Your help in this last battle saved us all. But I cannot let the secrets of the Power that you have uncovered be discovered by the children just yet. I'm sorry... but your gift cannot be used now.*

And with that final, solemn apology, Zordon once again vanished from the Astral Plane to return to his dear children... now seven in all.

* * *

Before her eyes even opened, she could feel the difference. An eerie emptiness tingled within her mind, and a chill seemed to gather in her palm.

The Power was gone... and so was Kreia.

Alexis gasped, her eyes shuttering open urgently. Confusion filled her mind as she desperately tried to fill in the blanks in her memory. Dazed, she stared at her naked palm.

All that she had experienced through Kreia was gone. All the memories and strategies the Purple Ranger had bestowed upon her had vanished like a vibrant dream faded upon awakening.

"Alexis?" Tommy's voice asked tenuously.

Alexis looked up from her palm, and smiled weakly at the six teens assembled before her.

She knew Tommy, Jason, and Trini were Power Rangers... and she had suspected Kimberly, Billy, and Zack were the other three.

Zack Taylor a Power Ranger... wouldn't Angela get a kick out of that? she wondered with amusement. No wonder he had so little time for her...

Jason's hand settled on her shoulder, an easy grin appearing on his lips. She couldn't help but smile in return. "What do you remember?" he asked.

She considered the question. "The last thing I remember was summoning the Maelstrom with Tommy. But then, I was too weak to hold on... I passed out."

She then regarded her hand once again. "Where's the coin?"

"It separated from your body after the Maelstrom," Billy reported, "We hypothesize that the cause for this separation was in fact Tommy's limited powers. His Green Ranger energies were restored, but not to their full power. He ran out of energy during the Maelstrom, forcing it to release rather violently. With all your energies drained, both coins separated from your bodies."

"But your power loss is only temporary," Tommy quickly interjected, "The Power replenishes itself, so the Purple Coin will be fine. The Green Coin had been magically stripped of its connection to the Power behind it some time ago, so it could never be properly restored. "

Alexis frowned. "I'm so sorry, Tommy. I could see how much you love being a Ranger."

Tommy smiled. "Hey, I've lost my powers before. At least this time, it really counted for something."

He extended his hand, clasping hers tightly. "Thanks a lot for your help, Alexis. You'll be a great Purple Ranger."

Her eyes widened. "Really? You guys actually want me to be the Purple Ranger?"

Kim blinked. "Of course! Why... don't want the job?"

"Oh no, not at all!" Alexis stammered, "I mean, sure I want the job. I just figured I was kinda the default. But now that you have the coin again, you can pick someone who can fight."

"Fighting isn't all there is to being a Ranger," Billy announced with a sheepish grin. "Believe me... I know."

"It's all about heart, Alexis," Zack added, smiling broadly and thumping his chest once, "and from what I've seen, you're heart is in the right place."

Alexis felt herself blush at the compliment, her gaze moving along the assembly of her peers. All wore warm smiles, openly welcoming her to join the fold.

"Oh wow..." she whispered. She was too overwhelmed to add anything more.

Just then, Zordon's essence returned to the Transdimension Cylinder. His gaze instantly fell upon the seven youths assembled in the back of the Command Center.

"A JOB WELL DONE, RANGERS," he announced, "I AM VERY PROUD OF YOU ALL."

The Rangers all smiled bashfully, and together they approached their beloved mentor, standing in a row before him.

"Yes!" Alpha chimed in, "Great work! I was really worried there."

"ALSO, I AM PROUD TO OFFER YOU, ALEXIS, A POSITION ON THE TEAM. I MUST ADMIT, THE CIRCUMSTANCES ARE VERY IRREGULAR. USUALLY, AN INDIVIDUAL HAS THE CHOICE TO BECOME A RANGER BEFORE BEING EXPOSED TO THE POWER... BUT THE CHOICE IS STILL YOUR OWN. JUST AS TOMMY DID, YOU NEED TO DECIDE FOR YOURSELF WHETHER YOU ACTUALLY WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS WAR."

He smiled gently. Alexis could feel that there was absolutely no pressure on her to either accept or reject the offer.

She glanced once again at her six new friends. They all had reputations at Angel Grove High of being almost perfect. But, amazingly, they even exceeded those reputations. They were an incredibly close knit group... even a family... and together they managed to gather the strength necessary to live their double lives to the fullest. They were exemplary, model students and citizens... balancing all their responsibilities while still managing to save the world on a regular basis.

Did she really have what it took to join their ranks? Could she measure up to all this?

They seemed to have a great deal of faith in her... and that faith made it much easier for her to have a little faith in herself.

Maybe she really wasn't so weak after all. Maybe her grandmother was right.

All these brave people seemed to think so.

"I'm in!" she declared, her face lighting up with excitement.

Kimberly squealed, embracing the new Purple Ranger as if she were her sister. Alexis marveled at the ease with which the Pink Ranger accepted people into her heart.

In turn, the other Rangers welcomed her personally to their ranks. Alexis felt her heart leap when Jason, now her leader, wrapped his strong arms around her shoulders.

"You'll be great, Alexis," he determined.

"Call me Lex, guys," she suggested with a half-smile, "All my best friends do."

* * *

"Oh gosh..." Alexis muttered, grinding her inline skates into the gravel, "I can't believe I'm so late!"

She had gotten a serious lecture the previous night from her mother for being so late in getting home, and had promptly crashed into bed at two in the morning. Despite the several "naps" she had taken during the exhausting evening, she found her body completely spent.

She bit back a grin. I guess I'd better get used to it! After all, I'm a Power Ranger now!

She skidded to a halt at the base of the stairs ascending to the high school, and hastily tore off her skates to replace them with fresh white sneakers. She then threw her skates into her duffel bag, and hurried into the building.

Thankfully, the hallways were still abuzz with students. She didn't miss first bell after all.

Her grin widening, Alexis made her way towards her locker, weaving through crowds of students.

"Hey girl!"

Alexis turned her head, and threw a smile at Angela, who waved at her from her locker.

"Hi Angela. What's up?"

Angela shrugged. "Nothing. Are you feeling any better? I called you like four times last night, and you never called me back!"

"Sorry. I was just dead tired last night," Alexis responded, "But I feel much better now."

It wasn't a total lie.

"What was wrong with you? If you were sick enough to get out of Wilton's class, you must've been suffering!"

Alexis shrugged. "Bad headache and dizziness. I guess it was a virus or something, but it's passed."

She then glanced at the large wall clock that hung above the lockers. "I gotta get to my locker. See you in Chem?"

Angela nodded, waving. "Bye, Lex!"

Alexis waved after her, her gaze lingering on her friend for a few moments. Deep down, it pained her to have to hide something so significant from the first friend she made in Angel Grove. But those were the rules... do not reveal their identities to anyone.

Both she and Zack shared the same burden regarding Angela.

She sighed quietly, hurrying toward her locker without giving the predicament another thought.

A smile automatically pulled her lips when she recognized Jason leaning against her locker, glancing at his wrist.

"Hey Jase," she called, stopping next to him. He grinned, pulling away from her locker to give her room.

"Morning, Lex," he greeted, "Sleep well?"

"Like a rock," she reported, rolling her eyes, "but hey... it was great to sleep without being haunted by dreams. Now I feel great!"

Jason chuckled. "Good to hear... but it looks like you've slept in. Billy wanted to give you this, but he had another meeting for his aerodynamics experiment."

With that, he handed her a silver and purple bracelet, complete with a large face with a microphone, small screen, and several buttons along the perimeter.

"Wow," she gasped, staring at the device, "What is it?"

"It's one of our little gadgets," Jason explained, snapping it onto her wrist. He then pulled up the sleeve of his rust red sweater, revealing his own red and silver device. "Billy designed these after we were recruited. We all have one in our signature color. They're communicators, watches and limited teleportation units."

Alexis frowned in astonishment, staring at her wrist in awe. "Billy made these? Whoa... I've heard he was a genius, but... wow!"

Jason smirked. "Yeah, he slapped yours together last night. The original design didn't display the time, but whenever someone asks what they are, we automatically say they're watches. Billy figured it was best to make them watches too, so at least no one's suspicious of a watch that doesn't show time. Anyway, yours has eight buttons. The six colored ones are for one-on-one messages with each other Ranger, the silver one is for the Command Center, and the gold button is for all the Rangers. And this flat button on the bottom is the Express Transporter, which taps into our teleportation system in the Command Center to automatically send you there. If you press the flat button and a colored button at the same time, or if you press the flat button while the communication link is open to another Ranger, then you'll be teleported to the coordinates of that Ranger. And finally, the small screen near the top gives us the digital time. It automatically adjusts for Daylight Savings, by the way."

Alexis nodded, listening intently to Jason's instruction. She then glanced at his watch. "Yours doesn't have a purple button yet," she realized.

"Well, Billy thought the priority was giving you a wrist unit, so you can get in touch with us if an emergency arises. We can reach you with the gold button, since you're in the system, but when he gets some time he'll install purple buttons on all of our wrist units. Oh, and by the way, Tommy's no longer on the all-call command. But you can still reach him if you need to with the green button."

"Got it."

Just then, the first bell rang. Alexis frowned, hastily digging through her locker and struggling to fit her roller-skates into the compact storage area.

Jason glanced toward the hallway, but didn't move. "Hey, you busy after school?" he inquired.

Alexis didn't look up. "Nope. What's on the schedule? Martial arts training? Alien Technology 101?"

Jason smiled sheepishly. "Actually... I had something else in mind."

Alexis looked up, perplexed.

"Well, we never did get those smoothies."